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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does each block of text need to be a separate text element?

No. You can separate your text into paragraphs within one element by using the return key. To create blank lines at the start of your text block hit the space bar before the return key.

Q: How can I make text bold, underlined or italic?

There is the facility to make text in paragraphs, bold, underlined or italic, however we would ask that you use this feature sparingly. For most cases where a title is required, please use the correct title element.

In order to place formatting on the text, you use standard HTML tags. For example, in your text entry box the following table shows what to type for each feature.

Q: Can I add Special Characters to my text?

Yes - you can add special characters to your text. Some characters can be typed directly in, however others may require a special code to be used. For example to display the character: ñ you need to enter ñ so you would type señor to produce señor.

For more characters please reference the following table.   

Q: How can I change the font size or font typeface?

The font size for text etc, is controlled by the template style sheet - there are a few reasons for this:

a) The pages are displayed to a 'Corporate Look & Feel', which means that there has to be some restriction on the way that pages are presented. Font size in particular is one area that can easily become a problem. The font/font size is chosen deliberately to work within the design and be readable on screen.   

b) Font size is controlled by style sheets on the site - this allows a number of things to happen:

• Alternative style sheets can be used to render the pages with a completely different look and feel. Because font and font size is controlled, they can immediately be integrated in the new look and feel with no effort at all - e.g.: if the university wishes to do a complete change to the website only the style sheets need to be changed, and users would not need to take any action.
• Using style sheets allow us to offer future facilities, for example, people with disabilities may wish to see the site at twice the size, with a colour scheme for dyslexics. Simply selecting a link would change all the pages that they viewed to be in the correct size/colour/font. If font parameters are not controlled by the style sheets (i.e. are user definable), this facility is not possible.

Q: How can I work on a page without it being displayed?

All pages created in the web editor are live unless they are turned off by clicking the button to the right of the page title in the page editor.

It is important, therefore to turn off all pages until they are complete. They can be found as the result of an RGU search even if they are not linked to other pages.

Q: How do I make an e-mail address into a hyperlink?

When you enter an email address into a text area or a table, the system automatically detects the address and will display it as an appropriate 'mailto:' link on the final page.

Q: Can I include links within a text area?

Currently the system does not allow you to enter links into the body of a text area. Instead you should use one of the link elements to insert the link between text areas.

Q: What about access for people with disabilities?

As pages are stored in the database and displayed using templates, our pages can be automatically formatted to comply with the relevant guidelines for disability access.

The pages produced by the web editor suite are all checked with 'Bobby' for compliance. Things such as alternative text tags for images are automatically entered from the information in the database.

In addition we will be providing a 'text only' version of the site, which will be automatically created from the web editor database, so you need take no action to take advantage of this feature.

• Bobby Accessibility Check

Q: Can I make files accessible via the browser?

Files are made available using the doc/file link from the Add element area.
The way a file is displayed depends on the browser settings of the person accessing your page. The following cases are possible:

• The file (e.g. a Word document) may display within the browser.
• The file's application (e.g. Word, Excel) may open in a separate window.
• The user may be given the opportunity to save the file to their file system. They can then open it later.

When creating a file link consider whether the information would be better as a web page rather than as a file.
You should take into account the following:
- the length of the file.
- the number of updates to the file. Remember that each time the file is updated the file will need to be uploaded to the file/document library. Information that changes continually may be better presented as a web page.

Intranet only files

Files that need to be accessible to all staff and students within the University can be saved in the web area on the shared drive and linked as a text link rather than uploaded to the document library. Please contact Help Desk if you need access rights to this area.
Take care not to use these links on external pages as it does not look good when error messages occur.
To link to a file that is saved in the web area of the shared drive, type the following in the url box of an external text link:
http://shared.rgu.ac.uk/web/...

Q: How many tabs can I add to my navigation bar?

There is no limit to the number of tabs you can add, but you should consider good page design. We would recommend no more that 10 links at this level. Remember some viewers are using small monitors and should not have to scroll to see all your navigation tabs.
If you require many top-level links consider using index pages containing further lists of links.

Q. I have created pages in the wrong group. Can I move them?

Yes. There is now a facility to move pages from one group to another from the page index page in the editor. Simply enter the page number of the page you wish to move and choose the group where you wish to place it.
Links are made using the page number ID only and so will not be affected if you move a page into another group.

Q. Can I update a page by making a copy of the original?

Yes and No. Although this may seem a good idea it should be used with care. When you delete your original old page you will destroy any links that were made to that page. They will not transfer automatically to your new page. You will see a warning message when you delete a page listing all pages that are linking to it, but not any navigation bar links . Any page links will be deleted along with the page, but not the navigation links.

Q. Can I use the new edit page facility to jump between groups?

Yes, if you know the page number you can edit a page in another group so long as you have access rights to that group.

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